PETALING JAYA – Several shoplifting rackets comprising men, women, children and even elderly people are causing hypermarkets and convenience stores to lose millions monthly.

Based on CCTV footage taken from retail stores nationwide, the “family-like” groups of between three and seven people have been moving from place to place pilfering items which can be disposed of easily.

Powdered milk tops the list of stolen items, along with tea, coffee and Milo packets, chocolates and toiletries.

The theft of powdered milk is so rampant that some supermarkets have placed the items behind locked glass counters.

shoplifting The milk and other loot are believed to be sold off cheaply to ready buyers and, in some cases, sundry shops.

Members of the group would come in together but separate when they are inside a store.

Some would select products to be stolen while others would act as lookouts or decoys.

They would then gather in a quiet area to remove the security tags and conceal the stolen items in bags or within loose clothing.

In smaller stores, they would try to distract the cashier or sales promoters while the others – usually females – try to hide as many items as possible under their clothes.

They usually get away with the thefts because supermarket workers are less suspicious of families shopping in a group.

But when they are caught red-handed, members of these groups have shown their violent side by pulling out knives or even beating up store workers before fleeing.

As there have already been several cases of workers being assaulted and threatened, staff have been advised not to put up a fight.

Retailers interviewed said the syndicates were different from the usual shoplifters because they worked in family-like groups and only targeted specific items.

Most shoplifters operate alone, steal on impulse and tend to take cheaper stuff such as stationery.

These thieves have been hitting at least one of the Mydin chain of hypermarket’s 148 stores nationwide daily.